Why you need Twitter
Twitter is a self-described micro-blogging service that definitely falls under the category of social networks, even if it approaches the whole social networking aspect a little differently than other types of social networks. While Facebook and MySpace are all about building massive profiles and connecting with others based on various interests, education, work, groups, etc., Twitter is all about microblogging — specifically, telling the world what you’re doing at any given moment. Just as you’d use Facebook to connect with high school friends, you’d use Twitter to tell people that you’re currently shopping for women’s sunglasses.
Twitter allows users to include one URL in their profiles; this URL is viewable whenever anyone views your profile (located at twitter.com/your_username_here). But you can also customize the background image and colors of your profile, meaning you could create a custom background image that lists any other blog, business or portfolio URLs that you’d like to get out there.
It’s easy to find people to follow on Twitter. And by using hashtags (#hashtag), you can easily get your updates listed under certain hashtag search results. Let’s say you’re discussing Obama. “Tag” it by adding #obama at the end of your update (called a tweet), and that update will be included in any search someone does for the hashtag #obama!
Twitter easily puts your message out there for millions of people to view. Individuals and companies all over the world are quickly seeing and harnessing the power of Twitter, and you should too!
